CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Christmas Eve.

After they got everyone settled and ready for bed, Bethany grabbed Trudy and Veronica on the upstairs landing, where a small sitting area with a picture window gave a full view of the lake and surrounding woods.

After hugging both of them, Bethany smiled. “Troy is being so wonderful. I can’t believe he’s here.” Touching her stomach, she whispered, “Should I tell him tonight or wait until Christmas Day?”

Trudy held an indulgent smile, her eyes gentle. “I’d say now is a good time, since you’ve been wanting to do that. You have a nice, clean room with a beautiful wintry view, and you can get all cozy with your husband. What could be more romantic than that?”

“You’re right,” Bethany said. “I’ll tell him. I hope he’ll be happy.”

“I think he’ll be completely surprised and happy,” Veronica said, hoping Troy would come clean about his work. “Enjoy the time you have together. I’m so impressed that he did come home.”

“With Cullen’s help. Troy said Cullen personally called him and pulled a lot of strings—got him a private flight out of Tennessee and then had a sheriff drop him off here safely.”

Trudy’s eyebrows did the wings-up thing. “That’s almost impossible to accomplish in this weather. And . . . that kind of favor takes a heck of a lot of money.”

Bethany shrugged. “I won’t question it. He has to have connections with Santa.” Then she turned with a giggle and headed to her room.

Trudy turned to Veronica. “So what’s the plan?”

“I’m going to sleep,” Veronica said, holding back on what she knew. “That’s my immediate plan.”

“Have you and Cullen talked things out?”

“We did. I know enough to let him enjoy Christmas. He’ll explain all of it when he’s ready. And he’s the one who has to do the explaining.”

Lulu tried to decide which door to scratch on. The dog sniffed all the doors and then headed back to Veronica’s room.

Trudy patted Lulu’s head. “You care about this man.”

Veronica nodded. “He’s been kind and considerate and persistent and romantic, but mainly, he’s helped me get through this new me.” She held up her necklace. “He gave me this—tucked into my chocolates.”

“I’d better check my chocolate box,” Trudy said. “That’s mighty sparkly.”

“Yes.” Veronica held the warm circle in her fingers. “I can’t figure out the man. I don’t know.”

“He’s changed you,” Trudy replied. “He’s changed all of us.” Then she wiggled her right wrist. “Hillman gave me this.”

A pretty charm bracelet glittered in the night.

“Let me see that,” Veronica said, smiling. “You have a Christmas tree, a dog—that must be Lulu—three little girls holding hands—that’s us—and a house that looks a lot like this lodge, all sprinkled with snowflakes. Our menfolk can sure find the perfect gifts, don’t you think?”

“I love it,” Trudy said, gushing like a schoolgirl. “I like Hillman. He’s easy and settled and he’s promised he’ll never, ever notice a young, curvy woman again.”

“That’s good to know,” Veronica said. “Trudy, I’m happy for you and Hillman. It’s a perfect match.”

“We are going slow—friends at first. We’ll see from there.”

“I’m seeing a wedding in a few months,” Veronica said.

“We don’t need to be married to be a comfort to each other.”

“No, but isn’t that what marriage should be?”

“Point taken,” Trudy said. “Those things are as important as lust and . . . bedroom frolics.”

“Did you just call sex bedroom frolics?”

Trudy grinned. “I did, and that’s enough of that. Get some rest. We have to go play in the snow in the morning.”

Veronica nodded. Then she pivoted. “Can you believe this? Us here together, snowed in.”

“I can believe it,” Trudy said. “Honey, it’s Christmas. Anything is possible. Even you and Cullen.”

Veronica went into her room and found Lulu curled up on the old braided rug, snoring away. Lulu did have an exciting night and now a big chew bone. After being feed and given an outside break, she was content.

Veronica washed up with the liquid soap by the old sink, then put her sweater back on and crawled into the chilly covers to wait for her body warmth to take over.

She’d gotten comfortable, her watch showing midnight, when she heard a soft knock at the door. Lulu hopped up and whimpered low, a sure sign a friend knocked.

Grabbing her coat, since her sweater didn’t cover much, Veronica opened the door an inch or two.

“Cullen?”

He leaned against the doorframe. “It’s Christmas Eve.”

She opened the door wide. “It is, isn’t it?”

“I wanted to tell you good night.”

“Okay, good night.”

He came inside and kicked the door shut, then twirled her around against the door. “Love your outfit.”

“I didn’t bring an overnight bag.”

“I found some sweaters and sweats in the storage closet.”

“I’ll check those out tomorrow.” She stared up at him, then reached up to touch his face. “You are a beautiful person, Cullen.”

“So are you, Veronica.”

He kissed her, then tugged her close. “Remember when I told you I was sorry? I hope you’ll remember that. I hope you can accept that I like—that I love—being with you.”

“I can accept that,” she said, her heart still buzzing from those kisses. “You need to accept that my life is changing fast, and I’m a little scared.”

Touching his forehead to hers, he replied, “I can’t accept losing you. That I know, so we can be scared together.”

“And we’ll need to decide where we’re headed once Santa goes back to the North Pole.”

He held her for a while. “I want a long talk with everyone before we part ways.” Then he pulled back and let her scoot around him. Opening the door, he turned and smiled. “Happy Christmas Eve.”

Veronica touched a finger to his lips. “I’m glad I’m here with you.” At least that wasn’t hard to say.